Pages

Thursday, November 22, 2007

On Friendship

I received the following e-mail tonight/this morning from a friend, and the timing couldn't have been better, as it discusses friendship. As we're going to be seeing a lot of friends today, yet at the same time I know that another friend will be on my mind, this letter really hit home. My friend gave me permission to post anonymously, and I thank my friend for that. [Hit expand to read the e-mail.]

The alleged college graduation speech about Sunscreen is an Urban Legend.

Forget Urban Legends, Invest in one of the most valuable commodities, your friends.

I write this from the apartment of a friend of mine in London. He's not even here, he just left the key for me with the doorman and told me to make myself at home.

Don't get me wrong; one should invest in Friendships not for the sake of getting anything in return. Friendships are good for the soul, so on a personal, selfish level, investing in friendships makes good altruistic sense.

The mishna does not mean to literally "buy" friends, but teaches that the value of friendship is even higher than that of a teacher and Rabbi.

This evening in London I heard amazing first-hand stories of friendship, gemilut chassadim and hachnasat orchim to the point that the person telling over the actions had tears in his eyes.

And now, I'm typing this from the apartment of a friend who I know from yeshiva twenty years ago.

And I got a ride to the apartment from someone I don't know, never met before in my life, but when heard me ask for a cab to a specific neighborhood here in London, said not to bother, and offered me a ride there directly since it was on their way.

Invest in your friends, in your friendships.

You can be in the worst of moods, and yet a call from a friend can pick you up, revitalize you, turn your situation around 180 degrees, and lift your spirits.

SerandEz leans toward current issues - from politics to the Jewish community - with sports, Israel, and even Judaism thrown in. Add some comedy, fun, my own thoughts, and a bunch of my friends, and voila! SerandEz! I hope people are getting something out of it, even if it's just an interesting idea or a quick smile. Enjoy! ~ Ezzie Goldish